Dredger-frame construction



July l0, 1928.

J. E. FUNK DREDGER FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheetl July l0, 1928.

J. E. FUNK DREDGER FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 24, 1927 2 sneetsneet 2 [NVENTR I0/m trunk Patented July 10, 1928.

UNITED smss- `TG1-IN E. FUNK, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

Damiana-FRAME CONSTRUCTION. a

Application :filed January 24,1927. Serial No. 163,251.

This invention relates to improvements in dredgers of that type which are supported from the land as differentiated from those floating on water, and particularly represents improvements in the supporting structure of a dredger of the above named general character which includes a swinging` boom on the outer end of which is mounted' the grabs or bucket. Such dredgers are fre` quently used in dredging out canals and ditches, the dredger then Yresting on and moving along the bank.

Unless the mast from which the boom is supported is maintained in a true vertical position transversely of the dredger,.requir ing of course that the main frameisr in a corresponding level horizontal position, the boom has a tendency to swing too freely to one side or the other, which places uneven and hard strains on the clutches, engines and all working parts which function with the swinging of the boom and its load. It frequently happens however that the ground on which the dredger rests is in the form of a levee having sloping sides, so that the ordinary rigid dredger frame, resting on the sloping ground causes the mast to have the above named objectionable tilt.

The principal object of my invention therefore is to construct the frame structure of the dredger in such a manner that the main frame on which the mast and boom are mounted is maintained in a level posit-ion transversely on uneven and sidehill ground, so that the mast is likewise maintained in a true vertical position, enabling the mast and boom to be revolved more easily and with less exertion and wear on the operating mechanisms than is otherwise the case, as above pointed out. This enables the machine to be made lighter, while enabling the same to be more readily handled even with along boom and a heavy load. By thus enabling the main frame to be maintained on the level, uphill work in operating the boom is entirely eliminated and in fact the machinel can be so adjusted on sidehill work as to make the direction in `which the load is being moved to be slightly downhill. This favors the direction in which the load is being carried and, still does not put any undue strain on the structure when the boom is being swung back slightly uphill with an empty bucket. I have found from actual practice that this is a considerable improvement over the present construction, as on a long swing of the boom, the boom-cable control clutch can be released and the boom with its load will travel, after once being started, faster (when the clutch is released) than when the clutch' is engaged. This free swinging movement may bel easily checked and'reversed at the end of the travel of the boom so that a few seconds in time is gained with each swing of the boom, over the present manner of operation. A machine built according to my invention, and itsv frame adjusted as above stated, makes'the labor in connection with the operation of the various control leversof the dredger much,l easier on the operator, as at no time do the clutches need to be set up tight to cause the boom to swing-an operation which repeated con! -stantly throughout a days work is very tir ing to the operator.

This object is carried outby mounting an adjustable wing frame in connection with and to one side of the mainframe, of such a nature, that it may be easily adjusted to lie at an angle to the main frame, so that while thelatter will be held on a horizont-al transverse level, the wing frame may rest on and be supported from a slopingsurface, andV the entire struct-ure ywill be properly and evenly supported at a number of. separated points.

A still further object ofthe invention is to construct the frame structure as a wholesothat the proper A rigidity is insured regard-v less of the swinging of the boom one way or the other.

A further object of the invention is to several views Fig.V l is a frontend elevation of myimproved dredger framel structure,the boom being swung to one side.

Fig. Zis a top plan viewk of 'the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of theJ wing frame adjusting screw mechanism. Fig. 4C is a` fragmentary view `ofthe mast showing the mounting of a set. of cablesheaves.

Referring now more particularly tothev beam 3 vcounter-weiglits 15 may be mounted.

characters 0f reference on the drawings, the main frame of the dredger comprises a pair of longitudinal and transversely spaced side beams 1 and 2 on which the dredger propelling and hoisting` mechanisms (not shown) are mounted.v The beamsl and 2 are connected at their forward ends by a rigid transverse beam 3' disposed on top of said beams 1 and 2 and extending a considerable distance to one side of the beam 2. The main frame is supported from the ground at longitudinally spaced points by endlesss, track trucks 4 of suitable character, each truck being` disposed between the beams 1 and 2 and being pivotally con# nected centrally of 'their length to said beams, asI by cross shafts 4CL between said beams andy truck frames.`

Turnably mounted on the main frame at the front and centrally of the width thereof and in transverse alinement with the beam 3 is a turntable 5. On this turntable is mounted, slightly forward of the center thereof, a vertical mast structure 6 of suitable height. A forwardly extending boom 7 is also mounted on the turntable, to turn therewith, the outer end of the boom being supported from the top of the mast in the usual manner. A plurality of longitudinal braces 8 eXtend frompivotal connections with alug (3a on the Jtop of the mast and in vertical alinement with the axis of the turntable to the beams 1 and 2 at. different points in their length. Said braces are rigidly connected to the sides of the beams and certain ones of the transversely spaced braces are in turn braced toV each other by a lcross bar arrangement indicated at 8a in Fig. 2.

It will therefore be seen that the mast, braces and main beams form a rigid structure so that no weaving movement therebetween in a longitudinal plane is possible.

`Disposed adjacent the outer end of the is a wing frame comprising a pair of longitudinal and transversely spaced beams 9, considerably shorter than the main frame and extending an equal distance forwardly and rearwardly of the beam 3. Between the beams 9 and pivotally supported therefrom centrally of its length is an endless track truck 10, the pivotal connection ,of the truck 10 and that of the corresponding truck 4 on themain frame being in common transverse alinement.

The beams 9 are connected at their ends by cross beams 11 rigidly 'secured thereto, radius bars 12 eXtending from the ends 0f the beams 11 nearest the main frame beam 2, to pivotal connections with an ear 13 on saidl beam under the beam 3. The outermost beam 9 of the lwing frame carries a horizontal bar 14' 'on whirh a number of y Another rigid radius bar 1G is rigidly connected to the rear end of the outermost beam 9 and extends thence rearwardlyk to a pivotal connection with ears 17 mounted on the main fr me beam 2 near its rear end. Also piv-y 'otally connected to said ears is another radius bar 18 which extends thence to a c0n nection witlithe inner one of the beams 9 substantially central of its length, said last named bar intersecting the rear bar 12 which is rigidly connected to the bar 18. The ears 13 and 17 are in .common longitudinal and vertical alinement so that it will be evident that the wing frame can freely swing up or' down about the ears on the main frame as pivots without disturbing said frame. At

the same time the wing frame is adequately braced against longitudinal movement relative to the main frame, and both frames are rigidly braced to each other so that trans? verse deflection or warping is positively prevented. lt will also be seen that a three point suspension from ythe ground is had v` Means for vertically adjusting the wing' frame relative tol the main frame and for holding the wingframe in any position is provided as follows: f j l j Projecting upwardly fromthe outer end of the transverse beam 3 and 'practically forming a unitary part thereof is an extension 19, the upper and outer end 19a of which is forked and overhangsv the wing frame somewhat. This extensionv forms a support `for a vertical adjusting screw 20, the lower end of which is pivotally connected in a longitudinal plane to rigid saddles 2l which rest on the beams 9. Vhile the screw may be connected'to the extension member in various ways, I preferably use the following arrangement.

` Disposed between the forks 19a is a sleevel 22 having trlfmnions 23 turnably mounted in said forks, the axes of said trunnions being longitudinally of the frame structure. Turnably mounted in the sleeve 22 is a sleeve nut 24 through which the screw passes in threaded engagement. The sleeve member 24 has a top overl'ianging flange 25 which rests on the sleeve 22 (with a gasket between) and a nut 25a on its lower end which bears against the lower end of the -sleeve 22.v .Secured to and projecting upwardly from the flange; 25 in spacedl relation to they screw is a rigid housing 26 in which the upper portion of thescrew is completely enclosed. Intermediate its ends a hand wheel 27 is rigidly fixed to the housing so that it and consequentlyl the sleeve 24 may be ro-V tated. This rotation of course will cause the extension 19 and beam 3 to be raised or lowered with a consequent transverse leveling of the main frame carrying the boom and mast. The latter is of course thereby adjusted to a proper vertical position.

In order to brace the mast againstlateral deflection and to also aid in preventing ver tical deflection of the beam 3 a. heavy brace beani Q8 extends from the top of the lug 6a of the mast to the extension 19 adjacent the top thereof, to which said brace is rigidlyY .secured by welding or other suitable means. The entire frame arrangement and the mast are therefore adequately braced to each other and held against any tendency to warping or deflection had with the swinging of the boom or due to uneven ground; the tendency f of the frame to tilt laterally is offset by the counter-weighted wing frame; and the main frame may be set at and maintained in a proper horizontal position regardless of the slope of the surface on which the structure is supported. The necessary operating mechanisms may therefore be rigidly mounted on the main frame without danger of the misalinement of any part of the mechanism developing; wear and tear on all parts will be largely eliminated; the physical exertion of the operator will be considerably lessened, and dredging operations as a whole greatly facilitated and enabled to be speeded up.

In connection with the turning mast, I have provided a special form of sheave ar Arangement to carry thev cables from the drums fixed on the main frame, to the bucket at the outer end of the boom, so as to prevent the cables possibly bindingin or leaving the sheaves with t-he swinging of the boom and the turning ofthe mast.

One set of such sheaves is shown in Fig. 4l, and the arrangement is as follows:

Journaled directly onto the mast structure is a vertical sheave 29, disposed in a plane longitudinally of the boom. Above and to the rear of this sheave is another sheave 30, disposed so that the adjacent edges are tangential in a vertical plane. The sheave 3() is journaled in a vertical. yoke frame 3l which is pivotally supported at both endsV in bearing lugs 32 projecting from the 1'nast. these lugs being in vertical alinement with the axis of rotation of the mast.

rllhe lower lug 32, and the adjacent portion of the frame 3l, are hollow, so as to provide a guide means for the cable 33 passing over and between the tangentially disposed faces of the sheaves.

To maintain the frame 3l and sheave 30A .in longitudinal alinement with the main rframe of the machine regardless of the turnlng of the mast, an extension 34 projects rearwardly from the frame 31 over the sheave, to which a tension spring 35 is connecte-d. the other end of said spring being secured to the brace structure 8. The extension v34 also serves ask a guide for the cable as it initially engages the top of the sheave, and acts to prevent the cable from jumping the sheave at any time.

From the foregoing .description it will bercadily seen that Ihave produced such ya device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

Tl) i While this specification sets forth in detail the present' and preferred construction ofthe device, still'in practice such deviations from such detail may be. resorted to. as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as delinedby the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention What l claim as new and useful and Adesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A frame structure for a dredger in!y ative to the wing frame, and ground bearing` means mounted on said frames.

2. A frame structure for' a dredger includinga main frame`v comprising transversely spaced beams, and a transverse beam connecting said beams and extending some distance to one side of the same; a wingk frame parallel to the main frame disposed adjacent and under the outer end of the transverse beam, beams rigidly connected Y, to the wing frame extending thence transversely in converging relation to each other toward the main frame, means pivotally connecting said last named beams to the adjacent main frame beam, other beams rigid` ly connected to the wing` frame at transversely spaced points and extending thence rearwardly toward the mainframe in converging relation to each other, pivotal con nection means between said last named beams and the adjacent main frame beam, both said pivotal connection means vbeing in common longitudinal alinement, and

means between the main transverse beam and the wing frame for supporting the `wing frame and adjusting thebeam vertically.

3. A frame structure for a dredger includig a main frame comprising transversely spaced beams, and a transverse beam connecting saidbeams and extending some distance to one side `of the same; a wing frame parallel to the mainframe disposed adjacent and under the outer end of the transverse beam, means for supportingv the wing frame from the( outer end of the transverse beam, a mast mounted on the main frame adjacent the transverse beam, brace members from the top of the mast to the main 'frame beams, and an additional brace member from Vthe top of the mast extending transversely to a rigid connection with the transverse beam. adjacent the outer end thereof. Y Y

LA framestructure for a. dredger including ak main frame comprising transversely spaced beams', and a transverse beam connecting saidbeams and extending some dist-ance to one side of the same; a Wing frame parallel tothe main frame disposed adjacent and under the outer end of the transverse beam, means pivotally connecting the Wing frame to the adjacent mainframe bearn, .an upstanding extension at` the outer end of the transversevbeam overhanging the wingframe, a. Vertical bar JOHN E. FUNK.y 

